The Loft (Waldorf Astoria Bangkok)

The Waldorf Astoria's showpiece cocktail den feels properly special.

The buzz: If you had to pick one bar in Bangkok right now to make a grand impression, this would be it: the skyhigh, glitzy showpiece cocktail den from the Waldorf Astoria, and the new home of Italian bartender Michele Montauti, previously of J. Boroski and The House on Sathorn.

The decor: Glamour here comes in the form of rose gold accents, Art Nouveau chandeliers, marble and the odd, whimsical touch like a giant paint-splattered slab of old wood repurposed as a communal table (meant to evoke, they tell you, an artist’s loft in a bygone Paris). A glass-encased wall of ink-blotched sketches and art supplies continues the theme, vying for your attention against the spectacular Ratchadamri views.

The drinks: Montauti takes The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book, written in 1935, as his starting point then twists the boozy old libations (we spotted one recipe that calls for “two thirds absinthe, one-third water, a dish of gin, stir”) into stuff that’ll get the modern palate salivating. Start the night with a Whiskey Smash (B520)—Chivas 18, chrysanthemum tincture, tangerine sherbet, lime juice and a bunch of mint leaves—before moving on to Lalla Rookh (Diplomatico Exlusiva Rum, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, rose syrup, lime juice, egg white and vanilla soda, B450) for an easy-drinking sensation. Our tip for something spirit-forward yet easy to drink? The Waldorf (B450), which mixes Michter’s Bourbon with Thai basil, Mancino sweet vermouth, chocolate bitters, coriander and maple.

The crowd: Sophisticated after-workers and people on dates.

Why we would come back: This is not just another hotel bar that wants to sell you the views then rip you off with a bad gin-tonic. Montauti’s cocktails are superb and the atmosphere feels properly special.